Note to CAIR: Your Islamism Is Showing

Can anything dent the high regard that many politicians, bureaucrats, and journalists have for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)? Despite mountains of evidence exposing the group's Islamist leadership and agendas, elected officials still attend CAIR events, government entities still hire it to conduct training, and reporters still treat it as a "civil rights" organization. Perhaps the following underreported news items will inspire a few people to rethink their views.

For starters, the Investigative Project notes that Nihad Awad, CAIR's executive director, offered some stunning comments during a recent "interfaith dialogue" hosted by Islam Online. Asked whether Muslims regret their support for George W. Bush in 2000, Awad stated:

We should not blame the Muslims for taking part in the political process, and we should not blame the United States alone for the 11 September 2001 attacks, but we should also blame the perpetrators.

One is left to imagine whether he believes that a government cabal conspired with the terrorists or that America's foreign policy and infidel culture merely presented a valid cause for revenge.

The issue would have made for scintillating dinnertime conversation when Awad addressed a banquet that religious groups held for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last week in New York. He and the visiting Iranian front man each shared his wisdom on the evening's lofty topic: "the religious contribution to peace, justice, and integrity of creation." At least Ahmadinejad's attendance means that Awad was not the most ironic participant to discuss the matter.

Finally, CAIR must be quite vexed at Mohamed Habib, a senior leader in the Muslim Brotherhood, the radical Islamist movement that seeks to unite Muslims under a new caliphate and serves as the grandfather of multiple terrorist groups. During a revealing interview posted at Pajamas Media, Habib let the mask slip on CAIR's ties to his organization:

Interviewer: But it's not CAIR, right? …Many people say that they are your front. Other people say that it's ISNA. But back to CAIR, some people from the Muslim Brotherhood have denied having a connection with CAIR. Do they really represent you?

Mohamed Habib: Ehh, this is a sensitive subject, and it's kind of problematic, especially after 9/11 …

Interviewer: For them to say that there is a relationship between you two?

Mohamed Habib: Yes. You can say that.

For those politicians, bureaucrats, and journalists who do feel inclined to take a more critical look at CAIR, there surely is no shortage of opening questions to ask its brain trust.

Related Topics:Government, Lobby Groups | David J. Rusinreceive the latest by email: subscribe to the free islamist watch mailing listThis text may be reposted or forwarded so long as it is presented as an integral whole with complete and accurate information provided about its author, date, place of publication, and original URL.